These extraordinary Super 8mm home movies from the Vietnam War, come from a member of the “Ravens”. The Raven Forward Air Controllers, also known simply as The Ravens, were fighter pilots used for forward air control in a covert operation in conjunction with the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States in Laos during America’s Vietnam War. The Ravens provided direction for most of the air strikes against communist Pathet Lao targets and People’s Army of Vietnam’s infiltrators in support of the Laotian Hmong guerrilla army. If you see aircraft in the film they are most likely Cessna L-19/O-1 Bird Dog liaison and observation aircraft, as well as Pilatus Porters.
The film starts out showing the flooding of the Mekong that occurs every year. At about 0:15, it shows Pakse and the Pakse airport with an O-1 taking off. At 0:41 it is showing the area near Attapeu where the pilot is marking a target for an airstrike at 1:05. The white smoke is from my Willy-Pete Rocket (white phosphorus) marking the target for the airstrike. At about 1:09 it shows the flash from a 500# bomb that was dropped. Then at 1:18, it shows 2 more 500# bombs being dropped. At 1:25 you can see a Laotian T-28 going on-target. At 1:31 it shows the blast of the bomb. At 1:35 a T-28 is seen getting ready to make a run on the target. 2 bombs are dropped at 1:47. At 2:24 it appears to be an F-4 or other U.S. fighter jet making a run on the target. It is possibly a T-28, although it seems to be flying faster than a T-28. The target continues to be hit, indicating that it was a Viet-Nam base camp. That camp is shown at 4:21, although it is difficult due to my unsteady O-1. At 4:35 is shown anti-aircraft bunkers, although one would have to know what one was looking at to know what it is. The North Vietnamese built anti-aircraft bunkers in Southern Laos to protect their Ho-Chi-Minh-Trails.
at 5:00+/- is shown the smoke from the bombing. At 5:14 are seen flashes from CBU (Cluster-Bomb-Units) being dropped. At 5:50, more CBUs. At 6:50+/-, more CBU with the T-28 seen making the run. At 7:07, my smoke marking the target for the strike. At 7:24, the smoke from the bombs.
At 7:40, more smoke from 500# bombs. This must have been a significant target considering the number of bombs being dropped and CBU.
At 9:37, weapons, troops on PS-38, a base camp of the CIA Special Guerrilla Units on the Bolovens Plateau above Attapeu. At 9:53, troops getting ready for an operation. At 10:40, helicopters flying troops into drop-zone. At 11:00, helicopter dropping off troops at the drop-zone. At 11:25, Ho-Chi-Minh-Trail, showing extensive bombing interdiction. At 11:45, possibly elephants being used for transport on trail. At 11:59, difficult-to-see cave in the center of the frame, just above the trail.
At 12:37, open bottom door on Porter Aircraft, dropping leaflets as part of Lao campaign for refugees. I have a photo of the leaflet that I will send to you later. At 13:05, base camp at PS-26 on Bolovens Plateau above Attapeu. Soldiers live with their families. At 14:40, CIA Air America helicopter on Bolovens Plateau.At 14:55, just a view of one of the large waterfalls that are seen in Laos. At 15:44, that’s me walking around the airplane, evidently inspecting damage from being shot. At 16:40, bullet hole in wing. Aircraft that came back with bullet holes would be patched with tape and sent out again. At 17:20, new village being built on Bolovens Plateau. During the lifetime of these villagers, they would not go further than about 5 miles from their village during their lifetime.
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